Separating mechanism for sheet material



June 5, 1923. 1,457,775 c. HENDERSON SEPARATING MECHANISM FOR SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. 1, 1922 Patented June 5, 1923.

UNITED STATES E QFFICE- CARL HENDERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T MIEHLE PRINTING PRESS & MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SEPARATING MECHANISM Fort SHEET MATERIAL.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL HENDERSON, a

citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in: Separating Mecl1 anism for Sheet Material, of which the following is a specification. V g This invention relates to 1 sheet feedlng mechanism.

As is well known, there is a tendency for' sheet from the top sheet when the latter is being withdrawn from a pile of sheet material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable Ipaper separating device adaptedtomeet the various requirements for commercial use. I These .and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed by the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved sheet separating mechanism shown in association with a pile of sheet material.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same illustrat ing how a second sheet is separated from the top sheet under operating conditions;. and Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The various novel featuresof my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will'be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the fi ures of the drawings,

it will be noted that'fhave shown my paper separating mechanism mounted over a pile of sheet material '10, such as paper, the sheetsto be removed one by one preparatory to being fed to a machine such for example I as a printing press. This paper separating mechanism includes a hollow tube '11 to the lower end of which a flexible or rubber suction shoe 12 is secured by means of'acap 13 threaded onto the lower end of the tube 11. Mounted within the tube 11 is a plunger 14 which is lifted within the tube as a result of suction and which falls within the tube as a result of its own weight for caus ing a separating action between the first and second sheets, as will be described in detail hereinafter. The plunger is guided in its vertical reciprocatory movements/by two guide flanges .lo'preferably formed. integrally with the plunger. A stop member I 16 ismounted inthe'lower end of the tubefor limiting downward movement of ':the plunger 14.. For limiting upward move: ment of the plunger 14 a stop member in the form of a pin 17' is provided. This pin extends through a cap 18' which 'is 1se-" cured to thetube 11in any suitable man ner.. Extending through the pin is a'key 19 to which a c0iledspring20 is secured, saidcoiled spring being wrapped around the upper end of the pin 17 and having its lower end anchored by a threaded member 21 screwed into the cap 18. The tendency of the spring 20 is to hold the pin 17 in-its lowermost position. Aswill be explained later, the plunger 14 is caused to rise in the tube with va quickaction and engages the lower end" of the pin 1.7with consider;

the pin 17 to its normal position. v In connection. with the sheet separating action it will be noted that the lower end of the. plunger 14 is spaced from theinterior surface of the hollow'stop member 16 to provide an air passageway, and that'the guide flanges 15 also are provided with slots or air passageways 22 in the periphery-thereof.

With the parts arranged as shown in Figure- 1, when the lower end of the flexible shoe 12 is not sealed air'is drawn upwardly through the shoe passageways 22 and through the;

.tube 11. As a 'resultthereof the plunger 14 is quickly raised and continues in its up ward" movement until stopped by the stop member 17, as explained hereinaboye, As soon as the suction shoe becomes'sealed by the sheet material the air'pressure on oppo= site sides of the guide flanges 15-"becomes equalized, whereupon the plunger drops of its own weight with considerable force, the lower end of the plunger striking the top sheet and forcing it from'a position in which it conforms to the lower surface of the su'ction shoe '12 downwardlygto the position shown in Figure 2, causing a relative movement between the top sheet and the second sheet, if the latter has been drawn up. with the top sheet, and thereby causing a separation of the second sheet from the top sheet. It will be understood that the separation of the second sheet from the top sheet is caused both by a relative movement o1 the top and second sheets when the plunger drops into engagement with the top sheet and also as a result oi the impact; Ihe area of the guide flanges 15 and of the openings 22 may be proportioned or varied in accordance with requirements, it being necessary only that the openings 22 permit the upward passage of air", but still causing enough suction to draw the plunger up, to the stop pin 17. The plunger then remains in its raised position until the suction shoe is sealed by the sheet, whereupon the plunger drops and delivers a quick hammer-like. blow upon the topv sheet 23. of material cooperating to efiiciently separate the top sheetirom the second sheet in the manner described. Owing to rebound, the. plunger may deliver several blows to, the sheet, the number depending upon the resiliency of the particular kind of sheets being operated upon. This also augments the'separating action since it imparts vibratory motion tothe sheets.

' It is. my intention to cover all modifications. of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination of means for causing sheet material to be withdrawn from a ile, and means for separating a second sheet groin the first sheet with a hammer-like blow if a second sheet adheres to the first sheet.

2. In separating mechanism for sheet ma terial, the. combination of means for sucking sheet material from a pile, and means for separating a second sheet from the first sheet with a hammer-like blow if a second sheet adheres to the first sheet.

3. In separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination of means including a suction shoe for drawing sheet material trom a, pile, and means for delivering a hammenlike blow at said suction shoe for separating a second sheet from the first sheet if a second sheet adheres to the first sheet. I

4, In separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination of suction means for drawing sheet material from a pile and including a movably mounted plunger actuated in accordance with suction conditions, said plunger for delivering a hammer-like blow to the sheet material drawn from said pile for separating a second sheet from the first sheet if a second sheet has adhered to the first sheet.

5. In separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination of a tube, a suction shoe mounted at the end. of said tube through which air is drawn and whereby sheet material may be drawn from a pile, a plunger operable in said tube whereby suction. first moves said plunger away from said shoe and after shoe issealed delivers a blow to the sheet, and separates a second sheet from the first sheet if a second sheet has adhered to the first sheet.

6. In separating mechanism for sheetmaterial, the combination of a tube through which air may be drawn for lifting sheet material from a pile, a plunger movably mounted in said tube, the plunger being caused first to rise in said tube as a result of suction and afterthe lower end of said tube becomes sealed to drop into engagement with the scal 7. In separating mechanism for sheet mar terial, the combination of a tube through which air may be drawn for lifting sheet ma: terial from a pile, a plunger movably mounted in said tube, the plunger being caused first to rise in said tube as a. result of suction and then when the lower end 0% said tube issealed to drop into engagement with the sealing sheet material and separating a second sheet from the first sheet if a second sheet has been drawn from the pile at the same time, and means for limiting the upward movement of said plunger.

8. In separating mechanism for sheet material, the combination of a tube through which air may be drawn for lifting sheet material from a pile, a plunger movably mounted in said tube, the plunger being caused first to rise in said tube as aresult of suction and then when the lower end, of said tube is sealed to. drop into engagement with the sealing sheet material and separating a second sheet from the first sheet if a second sheet has been drawn from the pile, means for limiting the upward movement of said plunger, and means for limiting the, down ward movement of said plunger.

9. In separating machanism for sheet ma terial, the combination of a-tube through which air may be drawn tor-lilting sheet ma: 7

terial from a pile, a plunger movably mounted in said tube, the plunger beingcaused first to rise in said tube as a result of suction and then when the lower end of said tube is sealed to drop into. engagement with the sealing sheet material and separating a second sheet; from the first sheet if a second sheet has been drawn, simultaneously from the pile, and means for cushioning and limiting the upward movement of the plunger.

10. In separating mechanism forsheet ma-, terial, the combination of a tube, a flexible suction shoe at the lower end of said tube,

and a plunger having discs for guiding the movement of said plunger, said discs having openings to permit the passage of air therea through, said plunger first rising in said tube Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 28th day 6 when suction is applied and then Whenthe of December, 1921. v v J suction shoe is sealed by sheet material drawn from a pile dropping in said tube for delivering a hammer-like blow to the sheet material and separating a second sheet therefrom 'if-.

CARL HENDERSON.

a second sheet has adhered thereto; 10 

